IP Library Granted Patent US 8,023,240
Granted Patent B2
US 8,023,240 · App. 12/169,055 · Granted Sep 20, 2011

Operating device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,023,240
App. No.
12/169,055
Granted
Sep 20, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An operating device is provided having a first button, a second button, and a regulating member. The first button has a tubular hole having a bottom, and is able to be pressed in the direction from the opening edge of said tubular hole to the bottom. The second button freely fits the inside surface of said tubular hole on the outside surface of the second button. The regulating member engages the edge of the first button and regulates the movement of the first button in the pressing direction. The first button is swingable on its edge.

Claims (64)

1. An operating device comprising:

a first button that has a tubular hole having a bottom, and is pressible in a pressing direction that extends from an opening edge of said tubular hole to the bottom of said tubular hole;

a second button having an outer surface that freely fits within an inner surface of said tubular hole;

a regulator that engages an edge of said first button and regulates movement of said first button in the pressing direction; and

said first button being swingable about the edge of said first button.

2. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein said first button comprises a first depressing surface on which said tubular hole is provided and a first projecting portion which projects from a back of said first depressing surface in the pressing direction, and said second button comprises a second depressing surface which faces approximately the same direction as said first depressing surface faces and a second projecting portion which projects from a back of said second depressing surface in the pressing direction and freely engages a fitting hole provided in the bottom of said tubular hole.

3. The operating device according to the claim 2 , further comprising:

a first switch that faces said first projecting portion;

a second switch that faces said second projecting portion;

a support member on which said first switch and said second switch are provided;

a first elastic member that is provided between said first button and said support member and supports said first button so as to be spaced from said support member; and

a second elastic member that is provided between said second button and the bottom of said tubular hole and supports said second button so as to be spaced from the bottom of said tubular hole.

4. The operating device according to the claim 3 , wherein the elastic modulus of said first elastic member is larger than the elastic modulus of said second elastic member.

5. The operating device according to the claim 2 , further comprising a third elastic member that extends over the back of said first depressing surface, said first projecting portion, the back of said second depressing surface, and said second projecting portion.

6. The operating device according to the claim 2 , further comprising:

an overhanging portion that engages a swinging end of said first depressing surface; and

said overhanging portion preventing said first button from being pressed before said second button is pressed.

7. The operating device according to the claim 1 , wherein said first button has a first projecting portion which projects from a back of a first depressing surface in the pressing direction, said second button has a second projecting portion which projects from a back of a second depressing surface in the pressing direction so as to freely fit a fitting hole which is provided in the bottom of said tubular hole, and a projecting length of said second projecting portion from the back of said second depressing surface is longer than a projecting length of said first projecting portion from the back of said first depressing surface.

8. An operating device comprising:

a first button that has a first pressing surface and a first sliding surface, and is movable in a first direction;

a second button that has a second pressing surface that is pressible by the first pressing surface and a second sliding surface which slidably engages the first sliding surface, and is movable in the first direction;

a first elastic member that biases said first button in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction;

a second elastic member that biases said second button in the second direction; and

said first pressing surface pressing said second pressing surface so that said second button moves in the first direction.

9. A camera having an operating device comprising:

a first button that has a tubular hole having a bottom, and is pressible in a pressing direction that extends from an opening edge of said tubular hole to the bottom of the tubular hole;

a second button having an outer surface that freely fits an inner surface of said tubular hole;

a regulator that engages an edge of said first button and regulates movement of said first button in the pressing direction; and

said first button begin swingable about the edge of said first button.

10. A camera having an operating device comprising:

a first button that has a first pressing surface and a first sliding surface, and is movable in a first direction;

a second button that has a second pressing surface that is pressible by the first pressing surface and a second sliding surface which slidably engages the first sliding surface, and is movable in the first direction;

a first elastic member that biases said first button in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction;

a second elastic member that biases said second button in the second direction; and

said first pressing surface pressing said second pressing surface so that said second button moves in the first direction.

11. A waterproof camera having an operating device comprising:

a first button that has a tubular hole having a bottom, and is pressible in a pressing direction that extends from an opening edge of said tubular hole to the bottom;

a second button having an outer surface that freely fits an inner surface of said tubular hole;

a regulator that engages an edge of said first button and regulates movement of said first button in the pressing direction;

said first button begin swingable about the edge of said first button;

said first button comprising a first depressing surface on which said tubular hole is provided and a first projecting portion which projects from a back of said first depressing surface in the pressing direction;

said second button comprising a second depressing surface which faces approximately in the same direction as said first depressing surface and a second projecting portion which projects from a back of said second depressing surface in the pressing direction and freely engages a fitting hole provided in the bottom of said tubular hole; and

a elastic member that extends over the back of said first depressing surface, said first projecting portion, the back of said second depressing surface, and said second projecting portion.

12. The waterproof camera according to the claim 11 , further comprising:

a first switch that faces said first projecting portion;

a second switch that faces said second projecting portion;

a support member on which said first switch and said second switch are provided;

a first elastic member that is provided between said first button and said support member and supports said first button so as to be spaced from said support member; and

a second elastic member that is provided between said second button and the bottom of said tubular hole and supports said second button so as to be spaced from the bottom of said tubular hole.

13. The waterproof camera according to the claim 12 , wherein the elastic modulus of said first elastic member is larger than the elastic modulus of said second elastic member.

14. The waterproof camera according to the claim 11 , further comprising:

an overhanging portion that engages a swinging end of said first depressing surface; and

said overhanging portion preventing said first button from being pressed before said second button is pressed.

15. The camera according to the claim 9 , wherein said first button comprises a first depressing surface on which said tubular hole is provided and a first projecting portion which projects from a back of said first depressing surface in the pressing direction, and said second button comprises a second depressing surface which faces approximately in the same direction as said first depressing surface and a second projecting portion which projects from a back of said second depressing surface in the pressing direction and freely engages a fitting hole provided in the bottom of said tubular hole.

16. The camera according to the claim 15 , further comprising:

a first switch that faces said first projecting portion;

a second switch that faces said second projecting portion;

a support member on which said first switch and said second switch are provided;

a first elastic member that is provided between said first button and said support member and supports said first button so as to be spaced from said support member; and

a second elastic member that is provided between said second button and the bottom of said tubular hole and supports said second button so as to be spaced from the bottom of said tubular hole.

17. The camera according to the claim 16 , wherein the elastic modulus of said first elastic member is larger than the elastic modulus of said second elastic member.

18. The camera according to the claim 15 , further comprising a third elastic member that extends over the back of said first depressing surface, said first projecting portion, the back of said second depressing surface, and said second projecting portion.

19. The operating member according to claim 1 , said edge of said first button defining an extremity of said first button in a plane transverse to the pressing direction.

20. The camera according to claim 9 , the edge of said first button defining an extremity of said first button in a plane transverse to the pressing direction.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Dec 2, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027315/0115 →
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Nov 4, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027176/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2008
From: ICHIKAWA, YUICHI; OGATA, AKIKO
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021500/0738 →